2017 BMW M6 Convertible

8.3

Overview

BMW M6 is one of the most celebrated car lineups from the German automaker. The ride is available in 3 forms, namely coupe, convertible, and sedan. 2017 BMW M6 Convertible is a spacious and comfy grand tourer meant to deliver excellent performance in longer trips. Nonetheless, the ride performs equally well for shorter errands too.

With the mighty 4.4L Turbo engine, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible has 560 horsepower along with 500 lb.-ft. of torque to spare. While the maximum rpm available to the engine power is 6000, the torque is delivered at a maximum rpm of 1500. Though a 7-speed automatic transmission mode is standard with the ride, BMW still offers a traditional manual 6-speed gearbox.

Jaguar F-Type R Convertible and Mercedes Benz SL 550 are 2 of the most important rivals to the M6 Convertible. In addition to flaunting less bulky builds, the 2 rides offer better performance than the BMW M6 Convertible. Furthermore, the rivals to 2017 BMW M6 Convertible are better in terms of offering combined mileage. Nonetheless, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible wins over its rivals in terms of spacious seating, comfort, and a multitude of options.

2dr Convertible (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 25, 2018

8.3

Overall Rating

8.0/10Features

9.4/10Engine

6.5/10Fuel Economy

7.8/10Interior

9.5/10Exterior

7.6/10Safety

With the mighty 4.4L Turbo engine, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible has 560 horsepower along with 500 lb.-ft. of torque to spare. While the maximum rpm available to the engine power is 6000, the torque is delivered at a maximum rpm of 1500. Though a 7-speed automatic transmission mode is standard with the ride, BMW still offers a traditional manual 6-speed gearbox.

Features

8.0/10

For, the Convertible M6 comes in a single trim. The trim comes with an opening bid of $120,000. On the inside, M6 Convertible comes with a carbon-fiber look. The ride supports an excellent infotainment system, dubbed iDrive, which is easy to use and powerful to have.

In addition to the standard 7-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission, BMW offers the optional 6-speed manual gearbox too. A number of packages are available to customize the grand tourer as per the requirements call for.

We recommend

There aren't different trims to choose from, easing our decision-making process. The only piece of advice, if you love driving, buy the manual.

Engine

9.4/10

Blending a tasteful yet aggressive design with extraordinary performance, the M6 is a sexy beast indeed. -Car and driver

A robust 4.4L DOHC V8 turbo engine is responsible for feeding the M6 with the required juice. The hearty engine produces 560 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. Both SL 550 and F-Type R Convertible offer less power than the M6 Convertible but somewhat additional torque.

The 4.4L V8 engine in BMW M6 Convertible is complemented by a responsive 7-speed automatic transmission. There is an optional 6-speed manual transmission available too. If you think that the power output of the 4.4L V8 engine is less then you can opt for the Competition package. It adds 40 horsepower and 16 lb.-ft. of torque to the already impressive engine output.

Models

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

MSRP

$120,000

$110,800

$108,250

Engine

4.4L DOHC V8 32V TwinPower Turbo

4.7L Bi-Turbo V8

5.0L DOHC 32V V8 Supercharged

Transmission

7-speed automatic

9-speed automatic

8-speed automatic

Horsepower

560 hp @ 6000 rpm

449 hp @ 5250 rpm

550 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

500 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

516 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm

502 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

The SL 550 is powered by a modest 449 hp turbocharged V8, larger than the Beemer,

Acceleration

The 2017 avatar of the BMW M6 Convertible rushes to 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds. The feat is similar for the Mercedes Benz SL 550. Jaguar F-Type R Convertible, on the other hand, shoots to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds. Therefore, the M6 Convertible is quicker but not the quickest.

Models

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

0-60 MPH

4.3 sec

4.3 sec

3.9 sec

Quarter mile

12.2 sec

11.5 sec

11.7 sec

Engine

4.4L

4.7L

5.0L

Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

11.0

8.8

9.8

2017 BMW M6 Convertible covers a quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds. This is slower than both the Mercedes Benz SL 550 as well as the Jaguar F-type R Convertible. While F-type covers a quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds, SL 550 does the same in 11.5 seconds. Out of the three, BMW M6 Convertible has the most CO2 emission rating of 11. Undesirable, of course.

Ride and Handling

2017 BMW M6 Convertible is a cheering grand tourer. Gaining speed is an effortless chore for the ride. As soon as you will put all the power down, you will notice that M6 Convertible is one of the fastest non-exotic cars out there are. Its excellent stability control system ensures there are no discrepancies with the power delivery.

The initial acceleration, though, is affected by the limited traction of the RWD. Turning off the stability control allows any adept driver to burn through the tires just the way one likes. Thanks to the widely adjustable nature of the throttle response, steering, suspension, and transmission, M6 Convertible can adapt to any driving temperament. The grand tourer is just as great for running weekend errand just as it is for sifting through long cruises.

Braking

2017 BMW M6 Convertible is way much bulkier than its rivals. The ride supports a curb weight of 4515 lbs. Fortunately, it has a powerful braking system. In fact, the ride flaunts the biggest brakes in the competition. While its front brake is 15.7 inches, the rear one is remarkably similar with 15.6 inches in size.

Model

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

Brake Front (in.)

15.7

14.2

15.0

Brake Rear (in.)

15.6

12.6

14.8

Curb Weight (lbs.)

4515

3959

3847

60-0 MPH (ft.)

115

113

113

BMW M6 Convertible requires a distance of 115 feet for coming to a full halt when decelerated from 60 MPH. This is even worse than the already bad stopping distance of 113 feet flaunted by SL 550 as well as the F-Type R Convertible. However, with a curb weight of 4515 lbs., the stopping distance is comfortably acceptable.

Dimension and Weight

2017 BMW M6 Convertible is a big, spacious ride. The ride features 193 inches of length and 53.9 inches of height, both of which are maximum in its segment. M6 Convertible is 74.8 inches in width, more than the SL 550 but less than that supported by the F-Type R Convertible.

Model

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

Curb weight (lbs.)

4515

3959

3847

Length(in)

193.0

182.3

176.0

Width(in)

74.8

73.9

75.7

Height(in)

53.9

51.2

51.5

Ground clearance (in)

4.2

3.7

4.8

Wheelbase (in)

112.2

101.7

103.2

Track width (in) F/R

64.2/63.5

62.8/63.0

62.4/64.1

Bigger dimensions of the BMW M6 Convertible gives away a majestic look and feel. However, the trade-off is that the ride finds it difficult to bustle around tight roads. The ride is bulkiest in the league with a curb weight well above the 4500 lbs. mark. Ground clearance and wheelbase for the BMW M6 Convertible is 4.2 and 112.2 inches, respectively.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

In cities, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible delivers 14 miles per gallon of gasoline. It offers 20 mpg on highways. Overall, the ride delivers a combined fuel economy of 16 mpg. For the segment to which the 2017 BMW M6 Convertible belongs, the mileage is totally acceptable.

Interior

7.8/10

"As expected of BMW's top two-door model, the M6's cabin caters to the driver's every need."-Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Unlike its rivals, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible comes with a rear seat. The ride offers 40.3 and 42.1 inches of headroom and legroom in the front, respectively. The headroom is maximum in the league. Legroom, while more than ample, is less than that offered by the SL 550 as well as the F-Type R Convertible.

Model

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

Passenger capacity

4

2

2

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

40.3/56.9/42.1

39.1/55.5/42.9

37.0/56.5/43.0

Second

36.5/49.6/30.5

N/A

N/A

Though 2017 BMW M6 Convertible has a rear-seat available, it isn't much comforting. While the 36.5 inches of headroom is ok, the 30.5 inches of legroom is unusable by adults, especially with bigger builds. Anyways, the rear seat can be used for enhancing the overall cargo capacity of the voluminous grand tourer.

Infotainment System

The 2017 incarnation of the BMW M6 Convertible retains the iDrive infotainment system, though comes with an updated version. It is complemented by a 10.2-inch standard display. In addition to the standard connectivity features with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, wireless charging is also available. The navigation system is fluent and easy to use. Moreover, voice support is also available.

To enhance the audio experience inside the BMW M6 Convertible, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system is available. Furthermore, it comes with an HD radio and a satellite radio. A 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is also available for an additional expense. Overall, the iDrive infotainment system is simple to use and effectual to have.

Being a 2+2 Coupe, 2017 BMW M6 Convertible has a cramped rear seat that can be instead used for complementing cargo capacity. So, in a way, BMW M6 Convertible has an impressive cargo capacity.

Exterior

9.5/10

"Series boasts an athletic profile, defined by a long hood and a striking crease that's nearly the length of the body."-KBB

Dimension and Weight

2017 BMW M6 Convertible is a big, spacious ride. The ride features 193 inches of length and 53.9 inches of height, both of which are maximum in its segment. M6 Convertible is 74.8 inches in width, more than the SL 550 but less than that supported by the F-Type R Convertible.

Model

BMW M6 convertible

Mercedes Benz SL 550

Jaguar F-type R convertible

Curb weight (lbs.)

4515

3959

3847

Length(in)

193.0

182.3

176.0

Width(in)

74.8

73.9

75.7

Height(in)

53.9

51.2

51.5

Ground clearance (in)

4.2

3.7

4.8

Wheelbase (in)

112.2

101.7

103.2

Track width (in) F/R

64.2/63.5

62.8/63.0

62.4/64.1

Bigger dimensions of the BMW M6 Convertible gives away a majestic look and feel. However, the trade-off is that the ride finds it difficult to bustle around tight roads. The ride is bulkiest in the league with a curb weight well above the 4500 lbs. mark. Ground clearance and wheelbase for the BMW M6 Convertible is 4.2 and 112.2 inches, respectively.

Exterior Features

Ever since its debut in 2012, M6 Convertible stays almost unchanged on the outside. This is a good thing though. Nonetheless, the ride receives a few brush-offs here and there for the 2017 release. Lucrative exterior feats belonging to the 2017 BMW M6 Convertible includes:

There are a number of optional safety and reliability features available with the 2017 BMW M6 Convertible. This includes the $9,250-priced carbon-ceramic brakes and the Driver Assistance Plus package. The elective package adds active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and surround-view cameras.

Jaguar F-Type R Convertible is a super-performer that hastens to 60 MPH in just 3.9 seconds. The ride boasts a total curb weight of 3847 lbs. It is much less than the bulky M6 Convertible and even less than the 3959 lbs. supported by the SL 550. F-Type R Convertible offers a decent combined fuel economy of 18 mpg and a league-leading ground clearance of 4.8 inches.

2017 BMW M6 Convertible vs Mercedes Benz SL 550

Another major competitor to the BMW M6 Convertible is the Mercedes Benz SL 550. It flaunts a 4.7L Bi-Turbo V8 engine, capable of producing ample 449 horsepower and impressive 516 lb.-ft. of torque. SL 550 comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission mode for an effortless gear-shifting.

Mercedes Benz SL 550 is available with an opening bid of $110,800. It flaunts a CO2 emission value of 8.8, which is less than that flaunted by both the M6 Convertible and the F-Type R Convertible. SL 550 offers an excellent, for its league, combined mileage of 20 mpg and an impressive 42.9 inches of front legroom.

Final Verdict

BMW M6 is an amped-up version of the 6-series. An option to choose among the coupe, sedan and convertible variants, makes the deal even more lucrative. The mighty 4.4L V8 engine in the 2017 BMW M6 Convertible is superior in quality as well as performance. The ride flaunts an excellent balance of performance and comfort.

Of course, the 6-digit price-tag restricts the ride to be enjoyed by those with bigger, bulkier pockets. Moreover, adding optional features to the ride can stack up the price in a hasty fashion. Nonetheless, considering the class and elegance, the M6 Convertible brings, it is worth investing the money. Though hefty, the deal won't make you regret anything, at all.